CN113194167B

CN113194167B - Folding mechanism, shell assembly and internal folding type electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113194167B
Application number: CN202110433897.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许少鹏; 王亚峰; 刘泰洋; 谭江洪; 田竞
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-20
Filing date: 2021-04-20
Publication date: 2023-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-20
Also published as: WO2022222653A1; CN113194167A

Abstract

The application provides a folding mechanism which is applied to internal folding electronic equipment, wherein the internal folding electronic equipment comprises a shell component and a flexible screen module, the shell component comprises a first shell and a second shell which can rotate relatively, the folding mechanism comprises a bracket, a first bearing group, a second bearing group, a transmission component and a linkage component, the transmission component is arranged on the bracket, and the linkage component is connected between the transmission component and the first bearing group and between the transmission component and the second bearing group. The first bearing group and the second bearing group can be selectively in a parallel flattening state so as to form a support for the bending area of the flexible screen module to keep the bending area flat, and when the first bearing group and the second bearing group are in a folding state, the first bearing group and the second bearing group together define an empty bin for partially accommodating the flexible screen module, so that extrusion or pulling force cannot be generated on the flexible screen module, and the flexible screen module is prevented from being folded excessively to fail. In addition, the application also provides a shell component and electronic equipment.

Description

Folding mechanism, shell assembly and internal folding type electronic equipment

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to a folding mechanism, a housing assembly, and an internal folding electronic device.

Background

At present, foldable electronic equipment, such as a foldable mobile phone, generally comprises an inner foldable mobile phone and an outer foldable mobile phone, and the mobile phone is miniaturized by folding a display screen of the mobile phone in half so as to be convenient for a user to carry. Conventional in-folding mobile phones generally include a first housing, a second housing, a folding mechanism pivotally connected between the first housing and the second housing, and a flexible display screen covering one side of the first housing, the folding mechanism, and the second housing. The first shell and the second shell can be turned over to be in a superposed state, and at the moment, the flexible display screen is in a folded state. However, when most of the existing internal folding mobile phones are unfolded, the rigidity of the bending area of the flexible display screen in the internal folding mobile phones is often insufficient, so that bending phenomenon is easy to occur, and the experience of users is reduced, even normal use is performed; when the inner folding mobile phone is in a folded shape, the bending area of the flexible display screen is easy to be extruded or pulled, and even the bending area is led to be overstretched to cause the failure.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a folding mechanism, a shell assembly and internal folding electronic equipment.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a folding mechanism applied to an internal folding electronic device, where the internal folding electronic device includes a housing assembly and a flexible screen module, the flexible screen module is disposed in the housing assembly, the housing assembly includes a first housing and a second housing that can rotate relatively, the folding mechanism includes a bracket, a first bearing group, a second bearing group, a transmission assembly, and a linkage assembly, the bracket is adapted to connect at least one of the first housing and the second housing, the first bearing group is adapted to be rotatably connected to the first housing, the second bearing group is adapted to be rotatably connected to the second housing, the transmission assembly is disposed in the bracket, the linkage assembly is connected between the transmission assembly and the first bearing group, and is connected between the transmission assembly and the second bearing group, and the transmission assembly is configured to drive the first bearing group and the second bearing group to rotate relatively via the linkage assembly when an external force acts, so that the first bearing group and the second bearing group are selectively placed in a parallel or an angled folded state, and the first bearing group and the second bearing group together define an empty module for partially accommodating the flexible screen.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a housing assembly, where the housing assembly includes a first housing, a second housing, and the folding mechanism described above, the first carrying set is rotatably connected to the first housing, the second carrying set is rotatably connected to the second housing, and the bracket is rotatably connected between the first housing and the second housing and opposite to the first carrying set and the second carrying set.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an internal folding electronic device, including the above-mentioned housing assembly and a flexible screen module, where the flexible screen module is disposed on the first housing, the folding mechanism, and the second housing.

In the folding mechanism, the shell assembly and the internal folding electronic equipment provided by the application, when the flexible screen module is arranged on the first shell, the folding mechanism and the second shell, the linkage assembly drives the first bearing group and the second bearing group to rotate relatively by virtue of the transmission assembly when the first shell and the second shell are relatively unfolded under the action of external force, and when the first shell and the second shell are unfolded, the first bearing group and the second bearing group are in a parallel flattening state and form a support for a bending area of the flexible screen module so as to keep the bending area flat.

Further, when first casing and second casing are under the mutual folding process of exogenic action, first group and the second of bearing are mutual for first group and the second of bearing are born and are combined together to prescribe a limit to and form the empty bin, and the empty bin is convenient for hold the bending zone that flexible screen module formed when buckling, and the bending zone is hidden in the cavity, and first group and the second of bearing can provide effectual support for flexible screen module, can not produce extrusion or pulling force to flexible screen module, satisfies the minimum bending radius requirement of flexible screen module simultaneously, prevents that the bending zone of flexible screen module from crossing to roll over and leading to flexible screen module to become invalid.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are needed in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described below, it being obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application when the electronic device is unfolded at a certain angle.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram corresponding to the electronic device shown in fig. 1 in a substantially flattened shape.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view corresponding to the electronic device shown in fig. 1 when the housing assembly is substantially flattened.

Fig. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a flexible screen module of the electronic device of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the electronic device shown in fig. 1 when the electronic device is in a stacked state.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a partial structure of the electronic device of fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a structure of a bracket, a first gear, a second gear, an intermediate gear set, and a damper in a disassembled state in the housing assembly of the electronic device shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a corresponding partial structure of the damping member of the housing assembly shown in fig. 7 when assembled to the rotating shaft of the bracket.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the first gear, the rotating shaft and the damping member of the electronic device shown in fig. 7 after assembly.

Fig. 10 is a partial structural schematic view of a housing assembly of the electronic device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the first guide rack and the first elastic member of the housing assembly shown in fig. 10 after assembly.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of the assembled structure of the second guide rack and the second elastic member in the housing assembly shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a partial schematic view of the electronic device shown in fig. 2 in a substantially flattened shape.

Fig. 14 is a partial schematic view of the electronic device shown in fig. 1 when unfolded at an angle.

Fig. 15 is a partial schematic view of a side projection of the electronic device of fig. 4 when unfolded at an angle.

Detailed Description

In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the following description will make clear and complete descriptions of the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent that the described embodiments are only some, but not all, embodiments of the application. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the application without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the application.

As "communication terminal" (or simply "terminal"), "electronic device" as used in embodiments of the present application includes, but is not limited to, a device configured to receive/transmit communication signals via a wireline connection (e.g., via a public-switched telephone network (PSTN), a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), a digital cable, a direct cable connection, and/or another data connection/network) and/or via a wireless interface (e.g., for a cellular network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a digital television network such as a DVB-H network, a satellite network, an AM-FM broadcast transmitter, and/or another communication terminal). A communication terminal configured to communicate via a wireless interface may be referred to as a "wireless communication terminal," wireless terminal, "and/or" mobile terminal. Examples of mobile terminals, electronic devices include, but are not limited to, satellites or cellular telephones; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; a PDA that can include a radiotelephone, pager, internet/intranet access, web browser, organizer, calendar, and/or a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and conventional laptop and/or palmtop receivers or other electronic devices that include a radiotelephone transceiver.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present application provides an internal folding electronic device 500, where the electronic device 500 may be, but is not limited to, an electronic apparatus such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a smart watch, etc. The electronic device 500 of the present embodiment will be described by taking a mobile phone as an example.

The internal folding electronic device 500 includes a housing assembly 400 and a flexible screen module 300, the flexible screen module 300 is disposed on the housing assembly 400, the housing assembly 400 includes a first housing 110, a second housing 120, and a folding mechanism 200, and the folding mechanism 200 is connected between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

The "inner folding" refers to that the flexible screen modules 300 located on the same side of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can be close to each other, and the flexible screen modules 300 can be more hidden between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 during the folding process of the housing assembly 400.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, the flexible screen module 300 is disposed on the first housing 110, the folding mechanism 200, and the second housing 120. The flexible screen module 300 can be relatively bent or unfolded by the housing assembly 400 and the folding mechanism 200.

With continued reference to fig. 3 and fig. 4, in this embodiment, the flexible screen module 300 may include a display function layer 311 and a buffer layer 312, where the display function layer 311 has a bending deformation function, and the display function layer 311 has a display function, or has both a display function and a touch function. The buffer layer 312 is disposed between the folding mechanism 200 and the display function layer 311. Further, the buffer layer 312 may be continuously laid on the first housing 110, the folding mechanism 200, and the second housing 120. The buffer layer 312 may be made of a material with a deformation function, such as foam, silica gel, a glue layer, or elastic rubber, where the buffer layer 312 is used to release stress of a bending region of the display function layer 311 during bending of the display function layer 311, reduce risk of crease generation of the display function layer 311, and avoid pulling or extrusion force of the folding mechanism 200 on the bending region of the display function layer 311, so as to effectively prolong service life of the flexible screen module 300.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the flexible screen module 300 may further include a supporting layer 313, where the supporting layer 313 may be disposed between the display functional layer 311 and the buffer layer 312, and the supporting layer 313 may be made of a material with higher toughness and lower elastic modulus, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (Polyethylene Terephthalate, abbreviated as PET or PETP) or other polymer materials, and the supporting layer 313 may provide relatively hard support for the display functional layer 311, improve the puncture resistance, and avoid the display functional layer 311 from being pierced by structures such as burrs or bumps of structures under the flexible screen module 300 (such as a surface of a housing or an electronic device in the housing).

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the flexible screen module 300 may further include a protective layer 314, where the protective layer 314 is disposed on a surface of the display function layer 311 away from the buffer layer 312, and the protective layer 314 may be made of a flexible material, such as flexible plastic or flexible glass. The surface of the display function layer 311 can be prevented from being scratched by providing the protective layer 314.

As shown in fig. 5, when the housing assembly 400 is in the folded state, the flexible screen module 300 can be hidden between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 to protect the flexible screen module 300.

Referring to fig. 2 and fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the first housing 110 may be a substantially rectangular housing, the first housing 110 includes a first supporting surface 113 for supporting the flexible screen module 300, and the first supporting surface 113 may include a flat surface structure, so that one end of the flexible screen module 300 may be laid on the first supporting surface 113 smoothly.

In this embodiment, the structure and dimensions of the second housing 120 and the first housing 110 may be substantially the same, the second housing 120 may also be a substantially rectangular housing, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be hard or soft, for example, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be made of metal, plastic, or both. As an embodiment, both the second housing 120 and the first housing 110 may be rigid housings, such that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 provide a certain rigid support and protection for the flexible screen module 300. Each of the second case 120 and the first case 110 may include a long side 111 and a short side 112, the long side 111 may be substantially perpendicular to the short side 112, wherein the long side 111 may have a length greater than that of the short side 112, and the short side 112 of the second case 120 may be substantially flush with the short side 112 of the first case 110, i.e., the short side 112 of the second case 120 and the short side 112 of the first case 110 may be substantially in the same plane as an end surface of the electronic device 500.

Referring to fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the second housing 120 includes a second supporting surface 121 for supporting the flexible screen module 300, and the second supporting surface 121 may include a flat surface structure, so that the other end of the flexible screen module 300 may be laid on the second supporting surface 121 smoothly, and the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 support two ends of the flexible screen module 300 respectively.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 form an included angle (as shown in fig. 1), the included angle between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 is greater than 0 ° and less than 180 °, and in an exemplary case, when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a semi-unfolded state, the included angle between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 is approximately 90 °, and at this time, the electronic device 500 can be used as a notebook computer, and the electronic device 500 can be stably placed on a desktop.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are flattened (as shown in fig. 2), the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 may be kept substantially flush, that is, both are located substantially on the same plane, at this time, an included angle formed between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 is substantially 180 °, and the flexible screen module 300 laid on the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 113 can be in a larger full screen working state, so that 180 ° full screen display of the flexible screen module 300 is achieved, and at this time, the electronic device 500 may be used as a tablet computer.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are stacked (as shown in fig. 4), the included angle between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 may be approximately 0 °, or the opening forming the included angle between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 may face the bending region between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, and at this time, the included angle between the first supporting surface 113 and the second supporting surface 121 may be less than 0 °. When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are stacked, the electronic device 500 has a smaller volume, and is convenient for a user to carry.

In this embodiment, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can rotate to different unfolding angles, the electronic device 500 can implement a 0-180 ° step adjustment function, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can be hinged with the folding mechanism 200 respectively, or the folding mechanism 200 is of a flexible structure or a foldable structure, so that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can rotate.

Referring to fig. 5, the folding mechanism 200 is disposed between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, the folding mechanism 200 can be flattened or folded along with the rotation of the first housing 110 or the second housing 120, and the folding mechanism 200 can provide effective support for supporting the portion of the flexible screen module 300 between the two ends.

Opposite side edges of the folding mechanism 200 are respectively connected to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120. The folding mechanism 200 utilizes the characteristic of being rotatable, so that the first housing 110 can be turned over relative to the second housing 120, and the first housing 110 is folded, or has an included angle, or is unfolded, or is flattened relative to the second housing 120.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the folding mechanism 200 may include a first carrying set 210, a second carrying set 220, a transmission assembly 230, a linkage assembly 240, and a bracket 250, wherein the bracket 250 is adapted to connect at least one of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, the first carrying set 210 is adapted to be rotatably connected to the first housing 110, the second carrying set 220 is adapted to be rotatably connected to the second housing 120, and the transmission assembly 230 forms a transmission relationship with the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 respectively through the linkage assembly 240, so as to drive the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 to rotate relatively under the action of an external force.

In this embodiment, the bracket 250 may be connected between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 such that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be selectively folded or unfolded with each other. The bracket 250 may provide support and protection for the transmission assembly 230 and the linkage assembly 240, and in addition, the bracket 250 may also function to protect and cover the internal components and circuitry of the electronic device 500.

As an example, the bracket 250 may be a rigid housing, and two ends of the bracket 250 are respectively pivoted to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, so that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may rotate relative to the bracket 250 about a rotation axis, respectively, so that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be selectively flattened or folded with each other.

As another example, the support 250 may be a flexible housing, the support 250 has a bendable and deformable property, two ends of the support 250 are respectively connected to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, the support 250 and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be integrally formed, the support 250 may be bent and deformed under the action of an external force, and two ends of the support 250 connected to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be mutually unfolded or folded, so as to realize the mutual folding or unfolding of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

As yet another example, the bracket 250 may include a hard portion and two flexible portions, the two flexible portions may be respectively located at both ends of the hard portion, the hard portion may provide support for the structures such as the transmission assembly 230 and the linkage assembly 240, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be respectively connected to the two flexible portions, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be rotated relative to the hard portion by the flexible portions to be selectively folded or unfolded with each other under an external force.

As yet another example, the bracket 250 may include a hard portion and two folding portions, the folding portions may include a plurality of folding units connected in sequence, two adjacent folding units may be unfolded or folded with each other, the two folding portions may be connected to two ends of the hard portion, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be connected to the two folding portions, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may respectively drive the two folding portions to bend with respect to the hard portion under an external force, thereby enabling the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 to be flattened or folded with each other.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the first carrying set 210 is rotatably connected to the first housing 110, the second carrying set 220 is rotatably connected to the second housing 120, the bracket 250 is disposed substantially opposite to the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220, so as to form a mounting space 251 between the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 and the bracket 250, the mounting space 251 can be used for mounting the structures such as the linkage assembly 240 and the transmission assembly 230, and the mounting space 251 can also provide a mounting space for a flexible circuit board or a circuit.

When an external force acts on the transmission assembly 230, the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 are driven to rotate relatively by the linkage assembly 240, so that the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 can be selectively in a side-by-side flattened state (as shown in fig. 3) or in a mutually-angled folded state (as shown in fig. 4).

In the flattened state, the first supporting surface 113, the surface of the first bearing group 210, the surface of the second bearing group 220 and the second supporting surface 121 can all be approximately located on the same plane, so that a flat support is provided for the flexible screen module 300 together, the display surface of the flexible screen module 300 can be unfolded to be a plane, at this time, the flexible screen module 300 is in a larger full-screen working state, the surfaces of the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220 can form a flat and effective support for a bending area (an area where the flexible screen module 300 bends when being folded) of the flexible screen module 300, so that the bending area of the flattened flexible screen module 300 can be kept flat, the bending area is prevented from being unfolded or folds are generated, and the user experience is improved.

As shown in fig. 5, when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are stacked, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be fastened to each other, and when the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 are in a folded state with an angle therebetween, the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 together define a hollow space 212 for partially accommodating the flexible screen module 300.

In this embodiment, when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a stacked state, the end portions of the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220, which are close to each other, protrude toward the side far away from the flexible screen module 300, so that a local space is vacated on the sides of the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220, which are adjacent to the flexible display screen module 300, to form a hollow cavity 212, the shape of the hollow cavity 212 can be adapted to the shape formed by the bending portion of the flexible screen module 300, and the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220 can simultaneously support the bending region of the flexible screen module 300.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a stacked state, the flexible screen module 300 may be in a state that the curl angle is less than or equal to 0 °, where the curl angle refers to an included angle formed between surfaces of the flexible screen module 300 located at two sides of the bending region, and an opening direction of the included angle faces the bending region of the flexible screen module 300. By forming the empty bin 212 in the folding mechanism 200, the minimum bending radius requirement of the flexible screen module 300 is met, so that the bending area of the flexible screen module 300 cannot be overstretched to cause failure.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the first carrying set 210 includes a plurality of first carrying units 211 rotatably connected in turn, the first carrying units 211 may be a rectangular sheet structure, and the first carrying units 211 may extend substantially parallel to the direction of the long side 111, wherein the length of the first carrying units 211 may be substantially the same as the length of the long side 111.

In this embodiment, two adjacent first bearing units 211 are rotatably connected, when two adjacent first bearing units 211 are driven to rotate by external force, the connection part of two adjacent first bearing units 211 can move towards the bracket 250, an included angle smaller than 180 ° is formed between two adjacent first bearing units 211, so that the shape formed by the two adjacent first bearing units 211 can be matched with the outer contour formed by the bending area of the flexible screen module 300, the two adjacent first bearing units 211 can be attached to the outer contour of the flexible screen module 300, and thus the two adjacent first bearing units 211 can support the outer contour of the flexible screen module 300, prevent the bending area of the flexible screen module 300 from being overstretched, and avoid being extruded to the flexible screen module 300.

Further, the two end surfaces of the first carrying unit 211 may be flush with the short side 112 of the first housing 110, so that the two end surfaces of the first carrying unit 211 are prevented from protruding beyond the short side 112, and the first carrying unit 211 is effectively prevented from being damaged due to the impact of the ground when falling. In addition, the length of the first carrying unit 211 may also be smaller than the length of the long side 111.

In this embodiment, two adjacent first carrying units 211 may be hinged by a connection member such as a pin, where each first carrying unit 211 includes a first carrying plane 2111, and the first carrying plane 2111 is used to support a bending region of the flexible screen module 300, and the plurality of first carrying units 211 may be selectively in a parallel flattened state (as shown in fig. 3) or an angled folded state (as shown in fig. 4) under the driving of the linkage assembly 240.

As shown in fig. 6, when the plurality of first carrying units 211 are in the parallel flattened state, two adjacent first carrying planes 2111 can be in a flush state, that is, they are located substantially on the same plane; when the plurality of first carrying units 211 are in the mutually angled folded state, an included angle formed between two adjacent first carrying units 211 is smaller than 180 °.

With continued reference to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the structure of the second carrying set 220 may be substantially the same as that of the first carrying set 210, the second carrying set 220 includes a plurality of second carrying units 221 rotatably connected in turn, the second carrying units 221 may be rectangular sheet structures, and the second carrying units 221 may extend substantially along a direction parallel to the long sides 111 and may be substantially the same as the length of the long sides 111.

Correspondingly, through rotationally connecting two adjacent second bearing groups 220, when two adjacent second bearing groups 220 are driven to rotate mutually by external force, the connecting part of two adjacent second bearing groups 220 can move towards the bracket 250, an included angle smaller than 180 DEG is formed between two adjacent second bearing groups 220, the shape formed by the two adjacent second bearing groups 220 can be matched with the outer contour formed by the bending area of the flexible screen module 300, the two second bearing groups 220 can be attached to the outer contour of the flexible screen module 300, and therefore the two second bearing groups 220 can support the outer contour of the flexible screen module 300, prevent the bending area of the flexible screen module 300 from being overstretched and avoid being extruded to the flexible screen module 300.

Further, the length of the second carrying units 221 may be substantially the same as the length of the long side 111, and two end surfaces of each second carrying unit 221 may be flush with the short side 112 of the second housing 120, so as to avoid the second carrying units 221 protruding beyond the short side 112, and effectively avoid the second carrying units 221 from being damaged due to impact of the ground when falling. Two adjacent second bearing units 221 can be hinged through a connecting piece such as a pin shaft, each second bearing unit 221 comprises a second bearing plane 2211, and the plurality of second bearing units 221 can be selectively in a parallel flattened state (shown in fig. 3) or an mutually angled folded state (shown in fig. 4) under the driving of the linkage assembly 240.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, when the plurality of second carrying units 221 are in the juxtaposed flattened state, two adjacent second carrying planes 2211 are in a flush state, that is, they are substantially located on the same plane; when the plurality of second carrying units 221 are in the mutually angled folding state, an included angle formed between two adjacent second carrying units 221 is smaller than 180 degrees, and the plurality of second carrying units 221 and the plurality of first carrying units 211 are mutually folded.

Referring to fig. 5 and fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the number of the first carrying units 211 may be the same as the number of the second carrying units 221, the first carrying sets 210 and the second carrying sets 220 are symmetrically distributed about a symmetry plane 260 (as shown in fig. 3), and the symmetry plane 260 may be a plane defined by a symmetry center line of the folding mechanism 200 and a symmetry center line between the first carrying sets 210 and the first carrying sets 220.

In the folding process, the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 can symmetrically rotate relative to the symmetry plane 260 and draw close to each other, meanwhile, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can also symmetrically rotate relative to the symmetry plane 260, when the folding electronic device 500 is in a folded state, the end surface of the first housing 110 far away from the second housing 120 and the end surface of the second housing 120 far away from the first housing 110 can be approximately flush, so that the flexible screen modules 300 located on the same side of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can be basically completely hidden between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, the flexible screen modules 300 are prevented from being exposed, the flexible screen modules 300 are effectively protected, and impact and abrasion of the outside on the flexible screen modules 300 are reduced or avoided.

The number of the first and second carrying units 211 and 221 may be an odd number or an even number, for example, the number of the first and second carrying units 211 and 221 may be an odd number such as 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, or an even number such as 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10. The number of the first carrying units 211 and the second carrying units 221 is not particularly limited, and may be specifically adjusted according to actual requirements.

In some embodiments, the number of first carrying units 211 may be different from the number of second carrying units 221, for example, the number of first carrying units 211 may be greater than the number of second carrying units 221, or may be less than the number of second carrying units 221.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are flattened, the first supporting surface 113, the first plurality of bearing planes 2111, the second plurality of bearing planes 2211 and the second supporting surface 121 can all be located on the same plane, so as to provide a flat and effective support for the flexible screen module 300, so that the flexible screen module 300 is flattened more flatly on the same plane.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 form an angle, for example, in a semi-unfolded state, the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 bends to form an arc surface, and the plurality of first bearing planes 2111 and the plurality of second bearing planes 2211 generally form an arc supporting surface adapted to the arc surface, so that the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 is effectively supported and protected.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a stacked shape, an included angle smaller than 180 ° is formed between the two adjacent first bearing planes 2111 and the two adjacent second bearing planes 2211, an included angle smaller than 180 ° is also formed between the first bearing plane 2111 and the two adjacent second bearing planes 2211, the plurality of first bearing planes 2111 and the plurality of second bearing planes 2211 can substantially enclose a U-shaped empty chamber 212, the plurality of first bearing planes 2111 and the plurality of second bearing planes 2211 can surround the outer side of the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 and form an effective support for the bending region, so that the situation that the flexible screen module 300 fails due to overstretching of the bending region is avoided, and the tensile/compressive stress effect on the bending region is reduced or avoided, so that the flexible screen module 300 can be effectively protected.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, one of the plurality of first carrying units 211 is pivotally connected to the first housing 110, one of the plurality of second carrying units 221 is pivotally connected to the second housing 120, and one of the plurality of first carrying units 211, which is far from the first housing 110, may abut against or be pivotally connected to an adjacent second carrying unit 221.

With reference to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the transmission assembly 230 is disposed in the installation space 251, the transmission assembly 230 is disposed on the bracket 250, and the transmission assembly 230 is configured to drive the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 to rotate relatively via the linkage assembly 240 when an external force acts on the transmission assembly, so that the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 are selectively in a parallel flattened state or an angular folded state. The transmission assembly 230 forms transmission with the plurality of first bearing units 211 and the plurality of second bearing units 221 through the linkage assembly 240.

In this embodiment, the transmission assembly 230 may include a first transmission set 231 and a second transmission set 232, where the first transmission set 231 and the second transmission set 232 are disposed in the installation space 251, and the first transmission set 231 and the second transmission set 232 are respectively in transmission fit with the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220, and when an external force acts, the first transmission set 231 and the second transmission set 232 drive the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 to rotate respectively, so that the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 are selectively in a side-by-side flattened state or an mutually angled folded state.

In the present embodiment, the first transmission set 231 includes a first gear 2311, the first gear 2311 is rotatably connected to the bracket 250, and the second transmission set 232 includes a second gear 2321, and the second gear 2321 is rotatably connected to the bracket 250, wherein a rotation axis of the second gear 2321 may be substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the first gear 2311. The first gear 2311 and the second gear 2321 rotate when an external force acts on them, so as to drive the linkage assembly 240 to rotate with the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220, and drive the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 to be in a flattened or folded state.

With continued reference to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the linkage assembly 240 is connected between the transmission assembly 230 and the first carrying set 210, and between the transmission assembly 230 and the second carrying set 220, the linkage assembly 240 may include a first link set 241 and a second link set 242, the first link set 241 is connected between the first transmission set 231 and the first carrying set 210, the second link set 242 is connected between the second transmission set 232 and the second carrying set 220, and the first transmission set 231 and the second transmission set 232 respectively drive the first link set 241 and the second link set 242 to rotate under the action of external force.

In this embodiment, the first link group 241 may include a first link 2411 and a first support bar 2412, the first link 2411 is rotatably connected to the first gear 2311, and the first support bar 2412 is connected between the first link 2411 and the first carrier group 210. Specifically, one end of the first link lever 2411 may be coupled to an eccentric hole of the first gear 2311 through a pin shaft to form a rotation pair with the first gear 2311, and when the first gear 2311 is rotated, rotational power may be provided to the first link lever 2411 to rotate the first link lever 2411 along a preset trajectory.

The number of the first support bars 2412 may be adjusted according to the number of the first bearing units 211. As an example, the number of the first support rods 2412 may be the same as the number of the first bearing units 211, the number of the first support rods 2412 may be plural, each first support rod 2412 is connected between the corresponding first bearing unit 211 and the first linkage rod 2411, and two adjacent first bearing units 211 may be rotated under the driving of the first gear 2311, and the two adjacent first bearing units 211 may be selectively in a parallel flattened state or an angled folded state when rotated. One end of each first support bar 2412 may be hinged to the first link bar 2411, and the other end is hinged to the first bearing units 211, and may be adjacent to the hinge of two adjacent first bearing units 211. The extending direction of the first link lever 2411 may be substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first gear 2311 and be disposed offset from the center of the first gear 2311, specifically, when the first link lever 2411 is coupled with the first gear 2311, the first link lever 2411 is coupled to an end surface of the first gear 2311 instead of the gear shaft of the first gear 2311. The first link rods 2411 may be disposed obliquely with respect to the symmetry plane 260, and when the foldable electronic device 500 is in the flattened state, an included angle between the first link rods 2411 and the symmetry plane 260 may be greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °, and an included angle between each of the first support rods 2412 and the first link rods 2411 may be less than 90 °.

With continued reference to fig. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, the first transmission set 231 may further include a third gear 2312 adapted to be rotatably connected to the first housing 110, and the first linkage rod 2411 is rotatably connected between the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312. As an example, the third gear 2312 is hinged to the first housing 110, a rotation axis of the third gear 2312 may be substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the first gear 2311, both ends of the first link rod 2411 are respectively hinged to the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312, specifically, both ends of the first link rod 2411 are respectively connected to end surfaces of the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312 and offset from gear shafts of the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312, wherein an extending direction of the first link rod 2411 may be substantially parallel to a line connecting a center of the first gear 2311 and a center of the third gear 2312. When the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312 rotate in the same direction, the first link 2411 rotates according to a predetermined trajectory.

In some embodiments, the third gear 2312 may be hinged to the bracket 250 and may be disposed adjacent to the first housing 110, and the third gear 2312 and the first gear 2311 may have a distance difference therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bracket 250, and the first gear 2311 may be adjacent to the bottom surface of the bracket 250 as compared to the third gear 2312.

In some embodiments, the first gear 2311 may be omitted, and the first transmission set 231 may include a driving link, wherein one end of the driving link is hinged to the bracket 250, and the first link 2411 is hinged to the other end of the driving link to form a rotation pair with the driving link. Alternatively, other structures may be used, and the first link 2411 may be moved along a predetermined path.

With continued reference to fig. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the structure of the second linkage 242 may be substantially the same as that of the first linkage 241, the second linkage 242 and the first linkage 241 may be symmetrically disposed about the symmetry plane 260, the second linkage 242 may include a second linkage 2421 and a second support rod 2422, the second linkage 2421 is connected to the second gear 2321 to form a rotation pair with the second gear 2321, and when the second gear 2321 rotates, the second linkage 2421 may be provided with a rotation power to rotate the second linkage 2421 along a preset track, and the second support rod 2422 is connected between the second linkage 2421 and the second bearing set 220. The number of the first support bars 2412 may be adjusted according to the number of the first bearing units 211.

As an example, the number of the second support rods 2422 may be the same as the number of the second bearing units 221, the second support rods 2422 may be a plurality, each second support rod 2422 is connected between the corresponding second bearing unit 221 and the second linkage rod 2421, and the adjacent two second bearing units 221 may be rotated under the driving of the second gear 2321, and the adjacent two second bearing units 221 may be selectively in a parallel flattened state or an angled folded state when rotated. The second link 2421 may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second gear 2321 and be disposed offset from the center of the second gear 2321, specifically, when the second link 2421 is connected to the second gear 2321, the first link 2411 is connected to the second gear 2321 instead of the gear shaft of the second gear 2321. The second linkage rod 2421 may be disposed obliquely with respect to the symmetry plane 260, and when the foldable electronic device 500 is in the unfolded state, an included angle between the second linkage rod 2421 and the symmetry plane 260 may be greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °, and may be disposed symmetrically with respect to the first linkage rod 2411 with respect to the symmetry plane 260.

In the present embodiment, the second transmission set 232 includes a fourth gear 2322 adapted to be rotatably connected to the second housing 120, the rotational axes of the third gear 2312 and the fourth gear 2322 may be substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the first gear 2311, and the second linkage rod 2421 is rotatably connected between the second gear 2321 and the fourth gear 2322.

As an example, the fourth gear 2322 may be disposed on the second housing 120, two ends of the second linkage rod 2421 are respectively hinged to the second gear 2321 and the fourth gear 2322, specifically, two ends of the second linkage rod 2421 are respectively connected to end surfaces of the second gear 2321 and the fourth gear 2322 and deviate from gear shafts of the second gear 2321 and the fourth gear 2322, and an extending direction of the second linkage rod 2421 may be substantially parallel to a connecting line between a center of the second gear 2321 and a center of the fourth gear 2322. When the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312 rotate in the same direction, the first link 2411 can rotate according to a predetermined trajectory.

In some embodiments, the fourth gear 2322 may be disposed at the bracket 250 and may be disposed adjacent to the second housing 120, and the fourth gear 2322 and the second gear 2321 may have a distance difference therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bracket 250, the second gear 2321 being adjacent to the bottom surface of the bracket 250 as compared to the fourth gear 2322.

In some embodiments, the second gear 2321 may be omitted, and the second transmission set 232 may include a driving link, wherein one end of the driving link is hinged to the bracket 250, and the second linkage 2421 is hinged to the other end of the driving link to form a rotation pair with the driving link. Alternatively, other structures may be used, and the second link 2421 may be moved in a predetermined trajectory.

In some embodiments, the first gear 2311 and the third gear 2312 may be symmetrically disposed about the symmetry plane 260, and the second gear 2321 and the fourth gear 2322 may also be symmetrically disposed about the symmetry plane 260, where the first transmission set 231 and the second transmission set 232 can respectively drive the first link set 241 and the second link set 242 to perform symmetrical movement about the symmetry plane 260 under the action of external force, so as to implement symmetrical movement of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are unfolded, the bracket 250 can be fixed relative to the symmetry plane 260, so as to avoid the problems of offset rotation or disengagement of the third gear 2312 relative to the first gear 2311, and the problems of offset rotation or disengagement of the fourth gear 2322 relative to the second gear 2321, and ensure that the end surface of the first housing 110 far from the second housing 120 and the end surface of the second housing 120 far from the first housing 110 are substantially flush when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a stacked state, so that the flexible screen module 300 can be substantially completely hidden between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 6, the transmission assembly 230 may further include an intermediate gear set 233, the intermediate gear set 233 including a first intermediate gear 2331 and a second intermediate gear 2332 meshed with each other, the first intermediate gear 2331 and the second intermediate gear 2332 each disposed between the first gear 2311 and the second gear 2321, the first intermediate gear 2331 meshed with the first gear 2311, and the second intermediate gear 2332 meshed with the second gear 2321. As an example, the axes of rotation of the first and second idler gears 2331, 2332 may be substantially parallel, and the first and second idler gears 2331, 2332 may each be rotatably coupled to the bracket 250 and may be symmetrically disposed about the plane of symmetry 260. The transmission ratio between the first intermediate gear 2331 and the first gear 2311 may be the same as the transmission ratio between the second intermediate gear 2332 and the second gear 2321, and the first intermediate gear 2331 and the second intermediate gear 2332 may freely rotate about respective axes of rotation.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, in some embodiments, the bracket 250 may be provided with a rotation shaft 252, the first gear 2311 is rotatably connected to the rotation shaft 252, and the folding mechanism 200 may further include a damping member 270, where the damping member 270 is disposed on the rotation shaft 252 and abuts against the first gear 2311 to form a preset rotation damping force Fz, and the preset rotation damping force is used to keep the first gear 2311 in a rotated position. When the first gear 2311 receives a rotational force F > Fz, the first gear 2311 rotates with respect to the rotation shaft 252; when the rotational force F that is applied to the first gear 2311 is equal to or less than Fz, the first gear 2311 does not rotate, that is, the first gear 2311 is in a stationary state, so that the entire folding mechanism 200 is in a stable state, and the unfolded state between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 remains unchanged.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the first gear 2311 includes an inner circumferential wall 2313, the inner circumferential wall 2313 may define a rotation hole 2314, the rotation shaft 252 is accommodated in the rotation hole 2314, the rotation shaft 252 may partially extend into the rotation hole 2314 or penetrate through the rotation hole 2314, the damping member 270 may include a fixing portion 271 and an elastic deformation portion 272, the fixing portion 271 is fixed to the rotation shaft 252, and the elastic deformation portion 272 is bent relative to the fixing portion 271 and spaced apart from the rotation shaft 252. The damping member 270 may be made of an elastic material, for example, the damping member 270 may be a metal or a composite material made of an elastic sheet, and the damping member 270 has better friction resistance.

As an example, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the elastic deformation portion 272 may be a substantially arc-shaped elastic sheet, one end of the elastic deformation portion 272 is connected to the fixing portion 271, the other end is spaced from the rotating shaft 252 and may be in a free state under no external force, and the elastic deformation portion 272 is bent with respect to the fixing portion 271 toward a direction away from the rotating shaft 252 to form a protrusion 2721. The inner circumferential wall 2313 is provided with an engagement portion 2315 for engagement with the elastically deforming portion 272, and the engagement portion 2315 may be a groove engaged with the protrusion 2721. When the protrusion 2721 is embedded in the groove, the damper 270 generates a preset rotational damping force Fz to the first gear 2311. When the first gear 2311 receives the rotational force F > Fz, the first gear 2311 starts to rotate relative to the damping fin, and the elastic deformation portion 272 and the first gear 2311 rotate relatively, so that the protrusion 2721 of the elastic deformation portion 272 is disengaged from the groove.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the number of the damping members 270 may be plural, the plurality of damping members 270 may be fixed on the rotation shaft 252 in an arrangement manner, substantially at equal intervals, for example, the plurality of damping members 270 may be disposed at intervals around the outer circumference of the rotation shaft 252, and the number of the damping members 270 may be the same as the number of the engaging portions 2315. In some embodiments, the elastically deforming part 272 is bent with respect to the fixing part 271 toward the rotation shaft 252 to form a recess, and the engaging part 2315 may be a protrusion 2721 structure engaged with the recess.

In some embodiments, the second gear 2321 may also be provided on the other rotating shaft 252 of the bracket 250, and the damping member 270 may provide a preset rotational damping force to the second gear 2321 in the same manner as described above.

The damping member 270 provides a preset damping force to the first gear 2311 and the second gear 2321, so that the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can be kept relatively stable within a preset damping force range, and therefore the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can be stably kept at a certain unfolding angle, the product shape and the service scene are increased, and when the bending force is greater than the preset damping force, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can continue to rotate until the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are in a flattened or overlapped state.

In addition, in some embodiments, the damping member 270 may also be a locking structure, such as an electromagnetic locking structure or an automatic clamping structure, where the electromagnetic locking structure may electromagnetically lock the first gear 2311 when the first gear 2311 rotates to different angles, and the automatic clamping structure may include a driving part and a clamping part, where the clamping part may be clamped on a gear shaft of the first gear 2311, and the driving part may drive the clamping part to selectively clamp the first gear 2311 to keep it stationary.

Referring to fig. 10, in some embodiments, the folding mechanism 200 further includes a first guide rack 281 adapted to be coupled to the first housing 110 and a second guide rack 282 adapted to be coupled to the second housing 120, the first guide rack 281 being engaged with the first gear 2311; the second guide rack 282 is engaged with the second gear 2321. When the first housing 110 or the second housing 120 rotates relatively, the first housing 110 is engaged with the first gear 2311 through the first guide rack 281, and the second housing 120 is engaged with the second gear 2321 through the second guide rack 282, the first guide rack 281 and the second guide rack 282 can move symmetrically relative to the bracket 250, and the first guide rack 281 and the second guide rack 282 drive the first gear 2311 and the second gear 2321 to rotate respectively.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, the first guide rack 281 may include a first guide portion 2811 and a first driving portion 2812, the first driving portion 2812 being provided with a first rack 2813 engaged with the first gear 2311. The first guide 2811 is adapted to be slidably connected with the first housing 110 and defines a first direction of movement X1 of the first guide rack 281 relative to the first housing 110; the first direction of motion X1 intersects (or is out of plane with) the axis of rotation of the first gear 2311.

As an example, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, the first guide portion 2811 is connected with the first driving portion 2812, the first guide portion 2811 may be slidably connected to the first housing 110 and may be telescopically disposed with respect to the first housing 110 along the first movement direction X1, for example, the first guide portion 2811 may be slidably disposed in a chute structure of the first housing 110, or the first guide portion 2811 may be provided with a guide hole, and the first housing 110 is provided with a guide strut structure engaged with the guide hole. The first guide portion 2811 includes first guide surfaces 2815, the first guide surfaces 2815 extend along the first movement direction X, the number of the first guide surfaces 2815 may be two, the two first guide surfaces 2815 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the first guide portion 2811, and the two first guide surfaces 2815 cooperate with the guide structure of the first housing 110 to define the movement direction of the first guide rack 281. The first driving portion 2812 has a first curved surface 2814 far from the first guiding portion 2811, the first curved surface 2814 is a cambered surface, the first rack 2813 is arranged on the first curved surface 2814, and the curvature of the first curved surface 2814 defines the movement track of the first housing 110. The first direction of movement X1 may be substantially perpendicular (or out of plane) to the axis of rotation of the first gear 2311.

When the first housing 110 rotates relative to the bracket 250, for example, when the user turns over the first housing 110, the first guide rack 281 is driven by the first housing 110 to rotate, and the first rack 2813 on the first curved surface 2814 drives the first gear 2311 to rotate, so that the first gear 2311 can be directly driven to rotate in a manual mode without consuming energy such as electricity, and in the rotating process, the first guide rack 281 can stretch and retract along the first moving direction X1 to adjust the stroke of the first moving direction X1, so as to prevent the first housing 110 from limiting the movement due to structural interference in the rotating process.

In some embodiments, the first guide rack 281 may be provided with a first limit portion 2816, the first limit portion 2816 is adapted to be in limit fit with the first housing 110 and is used for limiting a sliding stroke of the first guide rack 281, the first limit portion 2816 may be a boss structure, the first limit portion 2816 may be disposed at an end of the first guide portion 2811 away from the first driving portion 2812, specifically, the first limit portion 2816 may be disposed on a side of the first guide surface 2815 away from the first driving portion 2812, so as to prevent the first guide rack 281 from sliding away from the first housing 110 and ensure reliability of the guide stroke. In addition, the first limiting portion 2816 may be a limiting groove, which may extend along the first movement direction X1, and the first housing 110 may be provided with a limiting post that is matched with the limiting groove, and the limiting post is embedded in the limiting groove.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, the second guide rack 282 may have substantially the same structure as the first guide rack 281, and the second guide rack 282 may include a second guide 2821 and a second driving part 2822, the second driving part 2822 being provided with a second rack 2823 engaged with the second gear 2321; the second guide 2821 is adapted to slidably connect with the second housing 120 and defines a second direction of movement X2 of the second guide rack 282 relative to the second housing 120; the second movement direction X2 intersects the rotation axis of the first gear 2311.

As an example, the second guiding portion 2821 may be slidably connected to the second housing 120 and telescopically arranged along the second movement direction X2, where the second guiding portion 2821 is connected to the second driving portion 2822, the second driving portion 2822 has a second curved surface 2824 far away from the second guiding portion 2821, the second curved surface 2824 is a curved surface, the second rack 2823 is disposed on the second curved surface 2824, and a curved surface radian of the second curved surface 2824 defines a movement track of the second housing 120. The second guiding portion 2821 includes two second guiding surfaces 2825, the number of the second guiding surfaces 2825 may be two, the two second guiding surfaces 2825 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the second guiding portion 2821, and the two second guiding surfaces 2825 may cooperate with a guiding structure (for example, a guiding groove) of the second housing 120 to define a movement direction of the second guiding rack 282. The second guide portion 2821 may be slidably disposed in the chute structure of the second housing 120, or the second guide portion 2821 may be provided with a guide hole, and the second housing 120 is provided with a guide strut structure engaged with the guide hole.

The second direction of motion X2 may be out of plane with the axis of rotation of the second gear 2321. When the second housing 120 rotates relative to the bracket 250, the second guide rack 282 is driven by the second housing 120 to rotate, and the rack on the second curved surface 2824 drives the second rack to rotate, and in the rotating process, the second guide rack 282 can stretch and retract along the second moving direction X2 to adjust the stroke along the second moving direction X2.

In some embodiments, the second guide rack 282 may be provided with a second limiting portion 2826, the second limiting portion 2826 may be disposed at an end of the second guide portion 2821 away from the second driving portion 2822, and is used to limit the sliding stroke of the second guide rack 282, the second limiting portion 2826 may be a boss structure, and the second limiting portion 2826 may be disposed on a side of the second guide surface 2825 away from the second driving portion 2822 in a protruding manner, so as to prevent the second guide rack 282 from sliding away from the second housing 120, and ensure the reliability of the guiding stroke. In addition, the second limiting portion 2826 may be a limiting groove, the limiting groove may be substantially extended along the second moving direction X2, and the second housing 120 may be provided with a limiting post matched with the limiting groove, and the limiting post is embedded in the limiting groove.

When the user rotates the first housing 110 and/or the second housing 120, the first guide rack 281 may rotate with the first housing 110 and provide a rotational force to the first gear 2311, and the second guide rack 282 may rotate with the second housing 120 and provide a rotational force to the second gear 2321, so that the first carrying set 210 and the second carrying set 220 selectively provide support for the flexible screen module 300 or form the empty space 212 housing a portion of the flexible screen module 300 as the state of the housing assembly 400 is switched.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 11 and 12, the folding mechanism 200 may further include a first elastic member 291 and a second elastic member 292, the first elastic member 291 being configured to be disposed between the first housing 110 and the first guide rack 281 to provide a restoring force of the movement to the first guide rack 281. The second elastic member 292 is disposed between the second guide rack 282 and the second housing 120 to provide a restoring force of movement to the second guide rack 282. The first elastic member 291 may be fixed to an end surface of the first guide portion 2811 remote from the first driving portion 2812, and the second elastic member 192 may be fixed to an end surface of the second guide portion 2821 remote from the second driving portion 2822.

When the first guide rack 281 rotates along with the first housing 110, the first elastic member 291 is used for applying a supporting force to the first guide rack 281, so that the first guide rack 281 can adjust a stroke along the first movement direction X1 during rotation, and the first guide rack 281 is prevented from interfering with other structures to be restricted from moving. Accordingly, when the second guide rack 282 rotates with the second housing 120, the second elastic member 292 can be used to apply a supporting force to the second guide rack 282, so that the second guide rack 282 can adjust the stroke along the second movement direction X2 during rotation, avoiding the second guide rack 282 interfering with other structures and being limited. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can perform symmetrical rotation motion relative to the bracket 250 along the set track under the action of the first guide rack 281 and the second guide rack 282, respectively, which is beneficial to smoother folding or unfolding of the folding electronic device 500, and meanwhile, smooth deformation of the flexible screen module 300 is realized.

In the following, referring to fig. 13, 14 and 15 in combination with the above structure, the working principle of the foldable electronic device 500 during the folding/unfolding motion will be described by taking the number of the first carrying units 211 and the second carrying units 221 as three as an example, for convenience of the following description, the three first carrying units 211 are respectively named as a first unit 213, a second unit 214 and a third unit 215, and the three second carrying units 221 are respectively named as a fourth unit 222, a fifth unit 223 and a sixth unit 224, and the specific working principle is as follows:

working principle when switching from a flattened state to a folded state:

as shown in fig. 13, the electronic device 500 is in a flattened state, at this time, the first unit 213, the second unit 214, the third unit 215, the fourth unit 222, the fifth unit 223 and the sixth unit 224 are in a side-by-side flattened state, when the user bends the electronic device 500 in a flattened state, for example, when the user turns the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 at the same time, as shown in fig. 13 and 14, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 rotate along the first circumferential direction a and the second circumferential direction B, respectively, wherein the first circumferential direction a is opposite to the second circumferential direction B, the first guide rack 281 connected with the first housing 110 rotates along the first circumferential direction a, the first guide rack 281 drives the first gear 2311 to rotate along the second circumferential direction B, the first gear 2311 rotates along the first gear 231b, and the first gear 2311 is driven by the first support rod 2412 to move towards the bracket 250, the first gear 2311 connected with the first support rod is driven by the first gear 2412 to rotate along the second circumferential direction B, and the first gear 2311 is driven by the first gear 2312 to rotate along the first gear 2312, and the first gear 2312 is driven by the first gear 2312 to rotate along the first circumferential direction B, and the first gear 2312 is driven by the first gear 2312 to rotate along the first gear 2312, and the first gear 2312 is driven by the first gear 214 to rotate along the first gear 2312, which is relatively connected with the first gear unit 213, and the first gear is formed an included angle, and the first unit is formed.

Accordingly, the second guide rack 282 connected to the second housing 120 rotates along the second circumferential direction B along with the second housing 120, the second guide rack 282 drives the second gear 2321 to rotate along the first circumferential direction a, the second gear 2321 drives the second linkage rod 2421 to rotate along the first circumferential direction a at the end connected thereto, and the second linkage rod 2421 sequentially drives the sixth unit 224, the fifth unit 223 and the fourth unit 222 to move towards the bracket 250 through the three second support rods 2422, the sixth unit 224 and the fifth unit 223 rotate relatively and form an included angle, and the fifth unit 223 and the fourth unit 222 rotate relatively and form an included angle.

When the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 relatively rotate to each other to form a corner, for example, in a semi-unfolded state, the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 forms an arc surface, the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 bends and forms an arc surface, and the first unit 213, the second unit 214, the third unit 215, the fourth unit 222, the fifth unit 223 and the sixth unit 224 together form an approximately arc-shaped supporting surface matched with the arc surface, so that the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 is effectively supported and protected, smooth deformation of the flexible screen module 300 is realized, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can also maintain a relatively stable state when the flexible screen module 300 is unfolded under the action of the damping member 270.

As shown in fig. 15, when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 continue to rotate relatively to a stacked state, the first unit 213, the second unit 214, the third unit 215, the fourth unit 222, the fifth unit 223 and the sixth unit 224 together enclose the empty chamber 212, the first unit 213, the second unit 214, the third unit 215, the fourth unit 222, the fifth unit 223 and the sixth unit 224 together form a supporting surface similar to a U shape, the end portion of the first unit 213 connected with the first housing 110 and the end portion of the fourth unit 222 connected with the second housing 120 are close to each other and spaced apart, the U-shaped supporting surface can effectively support the outer side of the bending region of the flexible screen module 300, each structure in the folding mechanism 200 can provide an effective support for the flexible screen module 300 in the folding process through a set motion track, and prevent the flexible screen module 300 from failure due to overstretching, so as to realize smooth deformation of the flexible screen module 300.

Working principle when switching from superposition state to flattening state:

when the user flattens the stacked electronic apparatus 500, the first guide rack 281 rotates along the second circumferential direction B along with the first housing 110, the second guide rack 282 rotates along the first circumferential direction a along with the second housing 120, so as to respectively drive the first gear 2311 to rotate along the first circumferential direction a and the second gear 2321 to rotate along the second circumferential direction B, the first gear 2311 drives the first link rod 2411 to move the first support rod 2412 in the opposite direction, and the second gear 2321 drives the second link rod 2421 to move the second support rod 2421 in the opposite direction, thereby enabling the first unit 213, the second unit 214, the third unit 215, the fourth unit 222, the fifth unit 223 and the sixth unit 224 to rotate to a side-by-side flattened state. When the flexible screen module 300 is in the full-screen 180 ° working state, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can maintain a stable and flat state under the supporting action of the folding mechanism 200, and the display surface of the flexible screen module 300 is unfolded into a plane under the supporting action of the folding mechanism 200.

In the folding mechanism 200, the housing assembly 400 and the internal folding electronic device 500 provided in the embodiment of the application, when the flexible screen module 300 is disposed in the first housing 110, the folding mechanism 200 and the second housing 120, the linkage assembly 240 drives the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 to rotate relatively by the transmission assembly 230 when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are unfolded, the first bearing set 210 and the second bearing set 220 are in a parallel flattened state, and support the bending region of the flexible screen module 300 to keep the bending region flat.

Further, when the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are mutually folded under the action of external force, the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220 are mutually angled, so that the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220 together define a hollow cavity 212, the hollow cavity 212 is convenient for accommodating a bending area formed by the flexible screen module 300 during bending, the bending area is hidden in the cavity, the first bearing group 210 and the second bearing group 220 can provide effective support for the flexible screen module 300, extrusion or tension can not be generated on the flexible screen module 300, the minimum bending radius requirement of the flexible screen module 300 is met, and the bending area of the flexible screen module 300 is prevented from being excessively folded to cause the failure of the flexible screen module 300.

The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present application, and are not limiting; although the application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and are intended to be included in the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a folding mechanism, its characterized in that is applied to interior folding electronic equipment, interior folding electronic equipment includes housing assembly and flexible screen module, flexible screen module locates housing assembly, housing assembly includes rotatable first casing and second casing, folding mechanism includes:

a bracket adapted to connect at least one of the first housing and the second housing;

the first bearing group is suitable for being rotatably connected with the first shell, the second bearing group is suitable for being rotatably connected with the second shell, the first bearing group comprises a plurality of first bearing units which are sequentially pivoted, the second bearing group comprises a plurality of second bearing units which are sequentially pivoted, the number of the first bearing units is the same as that of the second bearing units, and the first bearing groups and the second bearing groups are symmetrically distributed about a symmetrical plane;

The transmission assembly is arranged on the bracket;

the linkage assembly is connected between the transmission assembly and the first bearing group and between the transmission assembly and the second bearing group, and is configured to drive the first bearing group and the second bearing group to relatively rotate through the linkage assembly when external force acts, so that the first bearing group and the second bearing group are selectively in a parallel flattening state or an mutually-angled folding state, and when in the folding state, the first bearing group and the second bearing group jointly define a blank chamber for partially accommodating the flexible screen module; the linkage assembly comprises a first connecting rod group and a second connecting rod group, the transmission assembly comprises a first transmission group and a second transmission group, the first connecting rod group is connected between the first transmission group and the first bearing group, the second connecting rod group is connected between the second transmission group and the second bearing group, the first transmission group and the second transmission group respectively drive the first connecting rod group and the second connecting rod group to rotate under the action of external force, and the first transmission group comprises a first gear which is rotatably connected with the bracket; the first connecting rod group comprises a first connecting rod and a plurality of first supporting rods, the first connecting rod is rotatably connected with the first gear, the first supporting rods are connected between the first connecting rod and the first bearing group, each first supporting rod is connected between a corresponding first bearing unit and the first connecting rod, and two adjacent first bearing units can rotate relatively under the driving of the first gear.

2. The folding mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second drive train includes a second gear rotatably coupled to the bracket, and wherein an axis of rotation of the second gear is parallel to an axis of rotation of the first gear; the second connecting rod assembly comprises a second linkage rod and a second supporting rod, the second linkage rod is rotatably connected with the second gear, and the second supporting rod is connected between the second linkage rod and the second bearing group.

3. The folding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second bearing group comprises a plurality of second bearing units pivoted in turn, the second support rods are a plurality of, each second support rod is connected between the corresponding second bearing unit and the second linkage rod, and two adjacent second bearing units can rotate relatively under the driving of the second gear.

4. A folding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the first drive-group comprises a third gear adapted to be rotatably connected to the first housing, the second drive-group comprises a fourth gear adapted to be rotatably connected to the second housing, the axes of rotation of the third gear and the fourth gear are both parallel to the axis of rotation of the first gear, the first linkage rod is rotatably connected between the first gear and the third gear, and the second linkage rod is rotatably connected between the second gear and the fourth gear.

5. The folding mechanism of claim 4, wherein the drive assembly further comprises an intermediate gear set comprising a first intermediate gear and a second intermediate gear that mesh with each other, the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear each being disposed between the first gear and the second gear, the first intermediate gear meshing with the first gear, the second intermediate gear meshing with the second gear.

6. The folding mechanism of any of claims 2-5, further comprising a first guide rack adapted to be coupled to the first housing and a second guide rack adapted to be coupled to the second housing, the first guide rack being in engagement with the first gear; the second guide rack is meshed with the second gear.

7. The folding mechanism of claim 6, wherein the first guide rack comprises a first guide portion and a first drive portion, the first drive portion being provided with a rack that meshes with the first gear; the first guide part is suitable for being slidably connected with the first shell and limiting a first movement direction of the first guide rack relative to the first shell; the first movement direction intersects with the rotation axis of the first gear;

The second guide rack comprises a second guide part and a second driving part, and the second driving part is provided with a rack meshed with the second gear; the second guide part is suitable for being slidably connected with the second shell and limiting a second movement direction of the second guide rack relative to the second shell; the second direction of motion intersects the axis of rotation of the first gear.

8. The folding mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a first resilient member and a second resilient member, the first resilient member being configured to be disposed between the first housing and the first guide rack to provide a return restoring force of movement to the first guide rack; the second elastic member is arranged between the second guide rack and the second housing to provide a restoring force of movement to the second guide rack.

9. The folding mechanism of claim 7, wherein the first guide rack is provided with a first limit portion, the first limit portion is provided at an end of the first guide portion remote from the first driving portion, the first limit portion is adapted to be in limit fit with the first housing and is used for limiting a sliding stroke of the first guide rack; the second guide rack is provided with a second limiting part, the second limiting part is arranged at one end of the second guide part far away from the second driving part, and the second limiting part is suitable for limiting cooperation with the second shell and is used for limiting the sliding stroke of the second guide rack.

10. The folding mechanism of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the support is provided with a shaft, the first gear is rotatably connected to the shaft, and the folding mechanism further comprises a damping member disposed on the shaft and abutting against the first gear to form a preset rotational damping force.

11. The folding mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first gear includes an inner peripheral wall, the inner peripheral wall defines a rotation hole, the rotation shaft is accommodated in the rotation hole, the damping member includes a fixing portion and an elastic deformation portion, the fixing portion is fixed to the rotation shaft, the elastic deformation portion is bent relative to the fixing portion and is spaced from the rotation shaft, and the inner peripheral wall is provided with a fitting portion for fitting with the elastic deformation portion.

12. A housing assembly comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a folding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the first carrying set is rotatably connected to the first housing, the second carrying set is rotatably connected to the second housing, and the bracket is connected between the first housing and the second housing, such that the first housing and the second housing are selectively foldable or expandable with respect to each other, the bracket being opposite the first carrying set and the second carrying set.

13. An in-folding electronic device comprising the housing assembly of claim 12 and a flexible screen module disposed in the first housing, the folding mechanism, and the second housing.

14. The in-folding electronic device of claim 13, wherein the flexible screen module includes a display function layer and a buffer layer disposed between the folding mechanism and the display function layer.